Full Breakdown
Randy Vásquez’s ankle injury and fainting lead to 15-day IL stint
7/4/2026, 9:02:30 PM
The incident and immediate medical response
During the Padres’ 12–7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 2, 2026, starting pitcher Randy Vásquez was struck on the right ankle by a 98.8-mph comebacker off Mookie Betts’ bat. He stayed in the game, allowing four runs over three innings, and later left the field to obtain an X-ray. While en route to the stadium’s imaging area, Vásquez fainted and was taken to a Los Angeles emergency department as a precaution. He remained conscious, received a series of tests, and was released early Friday morning after X-rays and other examinations returned negative.
Recent performance and injury context
Vásquez entered the season with a strong start but his earned-run average has risen to 4.71, and he has allowed at least two runs in eight consecutive starts. The Padres have seen several starters placed on the injured list within the first three months of the campaign, heightening concerns about pitching depth.
Main individuals involved
- Randy Vásquez – 27-year-old right-handed starter, jersey 98.
- Craig Stammen – Padres manager, the primary spokesperson for the club.
- Freddy Fermin – Catcher who also went on the injured list with a head bruise; he previously spent nine days on the concussion IL.
- Luis Campusano – Catcher activated from the IL to replace Fermin.
- Alek Jacob – Right-handed pitcher recalled from Triple-A El Paso.
Numbers that define the situation
- Vásquez: 27 years old; 4.71 ERA (MLB season); 4-1 record in Triple-A with a 3.71 ERA.
- Fermin: .152/.252/.268 slash line in 58 games, 2.51 ERA in 36 appearances.
- Padres’ record after the loss: 43-43.
- Dodgers’ run total: 12 runs, including early scoring from Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth.
Padres’ official response and roster adjustments
The club placed Vásquez on the 15-day injured list with a right-ankle bruise and moved Fermin to the 10-day list for a head bruise. To fill the vacancies, the Padres activated catcher Luis Campusano and recalled pitcher Alek Jacob from Triple-A. Manager Stammen emphasized a cautious approach, noting the need to protect both players from further injury.
Voices from the dugout
> “That’s great news in what could have been a really scary situation and definitely caught everybody off-guard.” — Craig Stammen, manager
> “He was on his way to get an X-ray here in the stadium and fainted. So we took him to the emergency room just as a precaution. He’s conscious.” — Craig Stammen
> “We’ve known the hits that Freddy’s taken to the head throughout the course of the season, and while he did not get diagnosed with a concussion, we thought it was smart to take care of him and just give him a little bit more time to heal up from that previous concussion without getting another head blow.” — Craig Stammen
> “It’s definitely really sore, he’s limping around a little bit with it.” — Craig Stammen
> “All things point positive for Randy today, but just got to be careful.” — Craig Stammen
Unresolved questions
Sources differ on the precise trigger for the fainting episode; explanations range from pain in the ankle to anxiety and stress, but no definitive cause was identified.
Outlook for Vásquez and the Padres
Vásquez will miss at least 15 days while the club monitors his ankle recovery. The Padres aim to stabilize their rotation by integrating Campusano and Jacob, while awaiting further medical updates before determining a return timeline for both Vásquez and Fermin.
